FG, EU launch energy efficiency code to save 40 per cent usage

The Federal Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) has launched Building Energy Efficiency Code (BEEC) jointly funded by the European Union (EU) and German government to achieve energy saves, availability and sustainability throughout the country.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who launched the code on behalf of the Federal Government yesterday, said it is targeted at reducing energy costs, wastages, and conserving available energy for utilisation where and when necessary in various homes, companies and public buildings.

Fashola, who also stated that energy conservation is key to achieving uninterrupted supply in the country, said conserving the little available power would ensure energy efficiency.

The minister, who stated that the motive behind this is “waste not, want not,” said that “the building energy efficiency code, when implemented, has the capacity to save 40 per cent of current energy usage in buildings.”

He also said that the code would complement the National Building Code currently being reversed according to world best practices, which had been in operation for some years.

Meanwhile, the EU Head of Corporation, Clens Hogel, said that the event was a manifestation of the support provided to Nigeria.

He said the EU was satisfied with the programme having contributed 14 to 15.5 million Euros to it, which had a total contribution of 24.5 million Euros jointly funded by the German government.

Hogel said that if the code is complied with by all the stakeholders, it has the capacity to increase electricity supply, energy savings and security, as well as cost-savings in the country.

He stressed that with the energy situation in the country, energy saving is indispensable as the population and houses increases in the country.

“This is what we can all do together to improve not only the environment in general but the energy situation in this country.

“BEEC is one of the concrete steps towards contributing to the target set in the renewable energy, the code focuses on measures that we should all implement in the future,” he said.

Also, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernard Schlagheck, assured that the German government would continue to support Nigeria.